Abstract:
Khat production is a profitable activity that may benefit a large number of people, but it is also
highly dependent on market conditions. The study of the impact of Khat Cultivation (Catha
edulis) on the socioeconomic and Plant diversity was carried out in Woliso district in 2023 in
four randomly selected kebeles(Korke, Jallisa cheka,Dildila mangura and Derare ebicha). The
purpose of the study was to investigate the socioeconomic impact of Khat cultivation and its
effect on Plant diversity in Woliso district. The target population of the study was 4565. The
study used a sample size of 98 respondents. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics.
According to the result of the study 11.2 %( 11) of the Cultivators were neither benefited nor
harmed socially from Khat Cultivation, 38.8 %( 38) of the Cultivators were harmed by Khat
Cultivation socially and 50 %( 49) of the Cultivators were benefited socially from Khat
Cultivation. The study indicated that 18.37% (18) of the Cultivators were neither benefited nor
harmed economically from Khat Cultivation, 30.61% (30) of the Cultivators were benefited
economically from Khat Cultivation and 51.02% (50) of the Cultivators were harmed
economically from the Khat Cultivation. The study indicated 71.4 %( 70) of the total Cultivators
were used deforesting or clearing other crops for their Khat cultivation expansion and this in
turn affect the food security seriously, 5.1 %( 5) of the total Cultivators were used the
modernized Khat production methods in order to scale up their production capacity and 23.5(23)
of the total Cultivators were used intercropping with other plants like that of Enset ventricosum.
Khat cultivation on a large cover of land created monoculture and affect Plant diversity. The
smaller the amount of available land, the more complicated it becomes for farmers to maintain
their customary diversified cropping regime. As a result, this contributes for the reduction of
food security. Therefore, alternative intercropping method should be created with other plants in
the study area in order to sustain Plant diversity in a healthy manner.
